CONFIRMATION NOVEMBER SESSION

STUFF TO KNOW

This is the head-knowledge we should have for tonight's topic. These questions are based on Diocese of Rockford Confirmation guidelines, and you'll probably recognize them from the Confirmation Quizzes we do during some of our Confirmation sessions.

Explain what a sacrament is.

What is the Eucharist?

The Eucharist is not a ___________. It’s really Jesus!

Why is the Eucharist known as the “source and summit” of our faith?

Name the two parts of the Mass.

The Mass is a re-presentation of _____________________________________.

How often are we supposed to attend Mass?

Why is it important for us to attend Mass regularly?

STUFF TO watch

Here's a video that takes a different angle on tonight's topic. Feel free to check it out, if you're interested.

STUFF TO TALK ABOUT

Our faith shouldn't just stay in our heads, but we should also let this knowledge sink into our hearts. After the Confirmation session is over, we encourage confirmandi and their parents and/or sponsor to discuss the following questions. These questions will help you reflect on and apply what you learned tonight to your life.

What stuck out to you most from the Confirmation session? Why?

The Eucharist is not a symbol, it's actually Jesus: His Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity. How does this knowledge change the way we approach Mass? How does this impact our relationship with God?

Are you ever bored at Mass? Why do you think that is? What did you experience tonight that might've changed your perspective of Mass, and how could that help you to engage more in the Mass?

God does not need our worship... so why is it so important that we worship Him? How does that impact your own life?​

Mass is a sacrifice. How can you make sacrifices throughout your week and offer those up in prayer during Mass?

STUFF TO DO

Our faith shouldn't just stay in our heads and hearts, but it should also significantly affect the way we live our lives. Here are some suggestions for how you could live out tonight's topic. We encourage you to pick at least one suggestion and commit to implementing it in your life. We also encourage parents and/or sponsors to make a commitment with their confirmandi.

Go to Mass! If your family hasn't done so yet, commit to attending Mass every Sunday and Holy Day of Obligation. Out of the 168 hours in a week, set aside just 1 hour to give to the Lord. If your family is already attending Mass every Sunday, consider trying to attend a weekday morning Mass. Go to the St. Thomas Church homepage and scroll down to see all our Mass times.

Make a sacrifice. The Mass is a sacrifice. We are called to bring our own sacrifices to Mass, and offer them up along with the priest. What's a little sacrifice you can make each day or week that you could "bring" with you to Mass? Who or what will you offer that sacrifice for? For example, you could give up using Instagram on Fridays, and use that extra time to pray for all of your friends. Then when the priest raises the communion host and the chalice at Mass, offer up your prayers for your friends.

Pray with Carpe Verbum. The Mass is our greatest prayer. But it shouldn't be our only prayer. The Church offers us a daily devotional with Bible readings (i.e. the readings for each daily Mass). We should be praying with the Scriptures every day. We know that can be a challenge, and so we encourage you to try out this free, daily, step-by-step prayer resource called Carpe Verbum ("seize the word"). Carpe Verbum texts a new prayer and lock screen graphic to your phone every morning. See details below...